Could algorithms alter the way we find new musical talent?
Over 25 million creators now use SoundCloud. With so much music available, are algorithms the solution to finding the next pop sensation? Algorithms are now accepted as an integral part of the digital world. They determine what pops up on our social media feeds, allocate tailored advertisements, and are useful in...
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Gen Z are applying to jobs through ‘TikTok Resumes’
In its latest effort to connect brands and creators, TikTok is piloting a new job recruitment feature called ‘TikTok Resumes.’ Applications are about to get a whole lot more creative. If you’ve been looking for a way to get creative within job applications – beyond turning your skills into arbitrary...
Pinterest just banned all weight loss ads
The image-sharing service has become the first major social media platform to prohibit any language and imagery that denigrates – or idealises – a certain body type. If, like me, you’re tired of being bombarded with dubious body-shaming ads while scrolling through social media, you’ll be happy to hear that...
YouTube’s ‘recommendations’ still pushing harmful videos
YouTube’s recommendation algorithm is reportedly guilty of sharing videos featuring misinformation, violence, hate speech, and other content in violation of its own policies. With more than 2 billion monthly visitors, and a billion hours of content viewed every day, YouTube remains the undisputed mecca of long form video content in...
New tool created for teens to report leaked nudes online
The charity Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched a tool for under-18s who are concerned their intimate photos will be shared online. Content can be reported and prevented from being reuploaded. Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has created a tool designed to give children new powers to prevent their private or...
Big tech threatens to quit Hong Kong over vague privacy laws
An internet coalition including Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter, and Amazon could be about to halt its services in Hong Kong if a proposed anti-doxxing law is to go ahead. Big tech is getting serious about free expression, and an entire region now faces the possibility of being unfriended. A Singapore-based internet...
Frame is the one-stop portal for ‘approachable’ therapy online
As mental health services continue migrating online, Frame is providing a portal to make therapy feel more ‘approachable’ for clients and accessible for practitioners. Covid-19, for better or worse, has shaken up countless industries over the last 18 months and the face of therapy looks to have changed forever. Being forced inside by national lockdowns has led to upticks in loneliness, anxiety, and grief across the planet, while countries with loose...
Could ocean geoengineering help to thwart climate change?
Marine scientists across the globe believe ocean geoengineering may offer the means to effectively thwart climate change. But could trapping gigatons of carbon underwater have unforeseen consequences? With Cop26 fast approaching in November, dozens of ocean geoengineering projects are currently being trialled to test the feasibility of trapping carbon emissions underwater. Though planting trees has proven an effective way of capturing existing emissions, a growing consensus among environmentalists is that it...
‘Cyber seeds’ may one day grow our vehicles and medical devices
A ‘cyber seed’ capable of growing manmade structures has been developed by researchers, though it will be some years before we’re using them. Want to hear the most farfetched, yet scientifically feasible story ever? Researchers have managed to create a ‘cyber seed’ composed of hundreds of pieces of digitally encoded information, which will algorithmically grow into any pre-set design. Granted, it sounds mental, but the science is solid. Mysteriously developed by...
Regulatory hurdles for flying taxis almost cleared
Talk of flying taxis called eVTOLs were all the rage in 2019. But, only now has the concept gathered enough investment and regulatory ticks to be considered a realistic prospect. This time, they really are close to take-off. While aviation endeavours to make biofuel a staple of the industry, can eVTOLs become a popular choice for eco-conscious flyers? Back in 2019, you may recall that big tech start-ups were racing...
